How to Make Spinach Lasagna

Spinach is often a dieter's best friend. Packed with vitamins, minerals and nearly 10 percent of your daily protein requirements, it is good for you and low in calories--plus it tastes great.Here is a recipe for spinach lasagna. Unlike most spinach lasagnas, which call for unhealthy Alfredo sauce, this recipe uses a tomato-based sauce and the traditional ricotta cheese mix, with a few extra ingredients.

Things You'll Need

• 1 lb. box lasagna (multigrain if you can find it)
• 1 small bag fresh baby spinach, washed
• 3 cloves fresh, minced garlic
• 2 tbs. fresh, chopped basil
• 1 small, diced yellow onion
• 1 lb. can tomatoes
• 3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1 cup chopped roasted red bell peppers
• 2 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
• 2 beaten eggs
• 2 tbs. fresh parsley
• 1 tbs. unsalted butter
• 2 tbs. olive oil
• 2 tsp. brown sugar
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Bring to boil heavily salted water in a large pot. Add lasagna sheets, and continue to boil (stirring occasionally to prevent sticking) until pasta is al dente--tender but still slightly firm (about 5 to 8 minutes, depending on size of pot and amount of water). Drain and let cool.

2. Prepare the red sauce. In large saucepan, heat olive oil and butter over medium heat. Once butter stops bubbling, add onion and 1 tsp. salt. Sweat the onion until tender and add brown sugar. Stir until onion caramelizes. Add garlic and cook for another 30 seconds. Deglaze pan with white wine. Add canned tomatoes, spinach, basil and salt and pepper to taste. Let sauce simmer for about 25 to 30 minutes until it thickens. Remove from heat.

3. Make the cheese mixture. Mix ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup feta cheese, parsley, eggs, roasted red pepper and about 1 tsp of salt.

4. Layer the three elements in a 9-by-13 inch pan, starting with the red sauce, then the cheese mixture and then a layer of lasagna sheets. Repeat (usually with three full layers). Reserve some of the red sauce as the last layer on top of the last lasagna sheets. Sprinkle with the last 1/4 cup feta cheese and garnish with fresh basil and parsley.

5. Bake at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes or until top starts to brown. Let cool for at least 10 minutes.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have the time, let both the cheese mixture and the red sauce cool in the fridge for an hour (or overnight) to let the flavors marry.

• This lasagna works great for planning ahead. Freeze for a few nights before serving, or double the recipe and freeze the second. But make sure to thaw in refrigerator overnight before baking--never on the counter!

• If you're making this in a hurry, be careful when putting all the elements together; without proper time to cool or a nice cold-water bath, the lasagna sheets can be very hot.

Resources

• Check out the health benefits of 1 cup of spinach.